Pavement cycling

[Donna Ferentes]

No you have already admitted you would breach the law when you think its unjust, which intrinsically imples you are putting yourself above the law (rules) when you see fit.

I think you may be conveniently omitting the parts about social justice and the ability to accept that society may punish you for it. This is rather different, indeed opposite, to "it suits me to do it, I'm doing it for my own benefit and I don't think anybody's got the right to complain".

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Actually Miss Ferentes you've completely changed my perspective on this. Obviously every driver on the road obeys the rules, so that means I should too. I mean, drivers never go too fast, always look before pulling out of junctions, and always stop at red lights. They never talk on mobile phones while driving and they always check their mirrors! How could I be stupid enought not to realise this? And I'm putting so many people in danger by riding on the pavement. What an inconsiderate person I've been all these years. And anyway, the all-important rules are more important than the safety of my own life. Thank you, thank you so much for opening my eyes!

Ah yes, it's the "because somebody else is irresponsible then somehow I must be irresponsible too" argument. Socrates, it ain't.

 

[exosculate]

I think you may be conveniently omitting the parts about social justice and the ability to accept that society may punish you for it. This is rather different, indeed opposite, to "it suits me to do it, I'm doing it for my own benefit and I don't think anybody's got the right to complain".

No its your notion of social justice just as it is somebody elses notion of safe cycling.

 

[5T3R30TYP3]

Ah yes, it's the "because somebody else is irresponsible then somehow I must be irresponsible too" argument. Socrates, it ain't.

I somehow think you've missed the point...

 

[tobyjug]

Cycle paths?

Not in the immediate vicinity. There is a dedicated cycle path from Helston to Culdrose navy base.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

No its your notion of social justice just as it is somebody elses notion of safe cycling.

You continue to omit the elements inconvenient to your argument.

 

[Crispy]

Only the bastards who ride on pavements, and the ones who ride at night with no lights. (Both kinds appear to be in the majority locally.)

I expect there's no excuse to ride on the pavements round your way toby, the traffic's too light. It's a bit of a different matter in London - the traffic is like a screaming wall of death in places. Trundling along a sparsely populated pavement is far safer. I've got no time for de-luminated cyclists either.

 

[exosculate]

You continue to omit the elements inconvenient to your argument.

I don't - my point is clear. You argue people should lobby about one thing and take direct action on another - depending on whether you agree with it or not.

 

[Crispy]

Ah yes, it's the "because somebody else is irresponsible then somehow I must be irresponsible too" argument. Socrates, it ain't.

No, it's the "someone else is irresponsible, therefore I must be extra careful" argument.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I don't - my point is clear. You argue people should lobby about one thing and take direct action on another - depending on whether you agree with it or not.

You continue to evade the parts of the argument you do not like. You evade the element of social justice rather than concern for yourself and you evade the point about udnerstanding that if you break the law you have to accept the potential penalities.

Anybody can state an argument all day long and maintain it by ignoring the inconvenient counter-arguments, but it's merely an acceptance that the argument itself cannot bear proper scrutiny.

 

[tobyjug]

I expect there's no excuse to ride on the pavements round your way toby, the traffic's too light.

Have you ever been to Cornwall in the tourist season? Tourists who drive cars seem to leave their brains East of the Tamar bridge.
I ride a bicycle and sometimes and adult "Miss Marple" type tricycle to go to the local shops. I would not dare venture our on either without wearing the yellow reflective sleeveless jacket I also wear when I go out on a motorcycle.

 

[5T3R30TYP3]

I would not dare venture our on either without wearing the yellow reflective sleeveless jacket I also wear when I go out on a motorcycle.

Unfortunately, yellow reflective coats don't seem to posess properties that protect people from multiple skull fractures.

 

[toggle]

Only the bastards who ride on pavements, and the ones who ride at night with no lights. (Both kinds appear to be in the majority locally.)

Very strange that i've never heard my parents complain about this epidemic of lightless, pvement riding cyclists in Cornwall. perhaps it is a localised phenomenon to the area near your house?

 

[tobyjug]

Very strange that i've never heard my parents complain about this epidemic of lightless, pvement riding cyclists in Cornwall. perhaps it is a localised phenomenon to the area near your house?

Perhaps they are too scared to venture out after dark.
Seriously though the situation got so bad, (two old people were knocked down and injured) that the local school now gives all children cycling safety lessons.

 

[toggle]

Perhaps they are too scared to venture out after dark.
Seriously though the situation got so bad, (two old people were knocked down and injured) that the local school now gives all children cycling safety lessons.

Not a bad thing to do anyway. It shouldn't take injuries to anyone for the council to be tlking about cycling safely to children.

nd my parents are certinly not too scared to venture out after dark, nor scared to complain about issues they see as probolem on 'their' roads. I've listened to numerous rants about 2 wheeled vehicles over the years, but no complints about an epidemic of pvement riding without lights in cornwall.

 

[Crispy]

Perhaps they are too scared to venture out after dark.
Seriously though the situation got so bad, (two old people were knocked down and injured) that the local school now gives all children cycling safety lessons.

Good thing too. There's plenty of cyclists out there who badly need such lessons.

 

[pogofish]

I don't see relevance.

I think you'll find that it is not against the law to do so. Which is the point here.

IIRC, it is, even if it is effectively unenforced. The normal pedestrian right of way is suspended on pedestrian crossings & the zig-zag zone, except when the green man is lit.

As for pavement cycling, whilst recognising the general principle that it should be avoided & that there are too many people out there whose riding takes the biscuit, there are plenty of places where common-sense should apply & it is unquestionably safer for a rider to use the pavement so long as they show some responsability to any pedestrians.

 

[maldwyn]

I wish they’d paint a cycle track on Albert embankment, it’s fucking lethal the number of cyclist using Lambeth bridge underpass. I’ve been hit twice in the last six months.

 

[tobyjug]

Highway Code:- Cyclists
54: You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement. Do not leave your cycle where it would endanger or obstruct road users or pedestrians, for example, lying on the pavement. Use cycle parking facilities where provided.
Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A sect 129

55: You MUST NOT cross the stop line when the traffic lights are red. Some junctions have an advanced stop line to enable you to position yourself ahead of other traffic (see Rule 154).
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36, TSRGD reg 10, reg 36(1)

 

[maomao]

You continue to evade the parts of the argument you do not like. You evade the element of social justice rather than concern for yourself and you evade the point about udnerstanding that if you break the law you have to accept the potential penalities.

I ride on the pavement regularly when I feel that the layout of the road or the behaviour of those on the road is presenting me with an unnacceptable level of risk. I am entirely prepared to accept the consequences of this. Because there are no consequences. You can huff and puff all you want but there's very little chance of me being stopped by the police for it.

 

[hotvans]

surely the consequences are you injuring a pedestrian?
As a pedestrian Iit is bad enough having to contend with drivers who dont' indicate, drive too fast, drive whilst talking on mobile phones, run red lights at pedestrian crossings (this happens to me at least twice a day in London rush hour) without also having to have eyes inthe back of my fucking head for some twat on a bike who thinks that the pavement is for him too - it ain't - the crappy pavement covered in litter, boxes and potholes is for pedestrians - if you want to use it get off your bike and push.

I have been injured twice by cyclists riding on pavements, its the one place I should be afforded a bit of safety. You choose to ride so you take the consequences of riding on the road.

I used to cycle and after being knocked off my bike a couple of times gave it up in London.

 

[Pingu]

is it ok to ride a motorbike on the pavement then?

a lot of the same issues as cyclists seem to suffer from...


btw

if the risk of a stretch of road is too great and you feel the need to bomb out and go onto the pavement why no just dismount and walk with your bike?

problem(s) solved

 

[Crispy]

I have been injured twice by cyclists riding on pavements, its the one place I should be afforded a bit of safety. You choose to ride so you take the consequences of riding on the road.

Well, those are exactly the sort of cyclists who need some lessons. If I'm going on the pavement, I slow to a crawl and usually drag one foot along the ground for extra stability. I don't think anyone here is advocating carte blanche for cyclists on pavements, just that sometimes it's the safest option. And when that option is taken, you should take it with all the care and attention sharing space with pedestrians requires.

 

[Hollis]

..And when that option is taken, you should take it with all the care and attention sharing space with pedestrians requires.

Agreed - trouble is that virtually every pavement cyclist I come across is an inconsiderate twat.

 

[hotvans]

Agreed - trouble is that virtually every pavement cyclist I come across is an inconsiderate twat.

Amen

 

[Crispy]

Agreed - trouble is that virtually every pavement cyclist I come across is an inconsiderate twat.

unfortunately true At least you know my face - that should spare me any recriminations!

 

[weepiper]

If you find the roads unsafe then you have the right to do the same as I do, which is to use the pavement as a pedestrian.

I'm inclined to agree. If the road's not safe to cycle on at that point, get off and push the bike on the pavement. Or work out an alternative road route that means you can ride the bike.

Yes it is inherently dangerous riding a bike on the road, just as it is to use any vehicle. But that doesn't mean you have the right to invade the pavement, even at low speeds.

And before you have a go, years riding: 11; number of times hit by car: 0; number of times nearly hit by inconsiderate/careless/agressive drivers: in the 20's; number of friends who ride bikes hit by cars: 4.

 

[nino_savatte]

The solution to pavement cycling? The government gets up off its fat, lazy, populist arse and puts forward policies designed to make cycling safer and easier. There's as much chance of that happening as there is Dick Cheney developing an acute sense of compassion.

Advisory cycle lanes? Do me a favour!!!!

 

[Wolveryeti]

Dunno what all the fuss's about. Both car and bike drivers can be inconsiderate twats. But think there's nothing inconsiderate whatsoever about my pavement invasions, considering I always ring my bell and slow down going round corners and totally slow down when I go near people.

What's the difference between going past someone on foot with your bike and going past them on your bike at the same speed?

 

[nino_savatte]

Dunno what all the fuss's about. Both car and bike drivers can be inconsiderate twats. But think there's nothing inconsiderate whatsoever about my pavement invasions, considering I always ring my bell and slow down going round corners and totally slow down when I go near people.

What's the difference between going past someone on foot with your bike and going past them on your bike at the same speed?

True. The other day I was cycling down Clapham High St, when some prick in a white van pulls out from Clapham Manor Rd right in front of me. Not content with being an inconsiderate cunt, he backed into me as I was trying to get around him. As I was remonstrating with him he decided to come after me and was trying to ram me. I took his reg number and phoned the police who then told me that the reg number didn't match the vehicle.